Rankin Award

Erwin High School’s Assistant Principal, Stefanie Buckner Hill has been a mathematics educator for more than 20 years and has contributed to the mathematics education of countless students and teachers during this time. Her letter of nomination stated that “Stefanie is a talented educator, a strategic leader, and a tireless advocate for mathematics teachers and students across North Carolina.” Stephanie is a founding member of the North Carolina Collaborative for Mathematics Learning, where she helped draft the structures that now sustain one of the most vibrant research– practice partnerships in the country. When North Carolina adopted new high school math standards, she was a part of a small group of district leaders who galvanized a grassroots network of educators to develop guidance documents that were adopted by more than 80% of the state’s districts. Her collaborative spirit, strategic mind, and fierce commitment to equitable mathematics learning opportunities helped move an entire system forward.

A long-serving and highly respected leader within NCCTM, Stefanie has served as State President and
Secondary Vice President for the Western Region. While her contributions to NCCTM are far too numerous to list,
one defining example occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the future of our organization was
uncertain. Faced with the financial threat of a major conference venue enforcing cancellation fees, Stefanie forged a
strategic partnership with other professional organizations to lead coordinated advocacy efforts with the city and the
convention center and successfully negotiated the release of the cancellation charges. Through persistence and
collaboration, ultimately saving NCCTM from bankruptcy, ensuring the continued service of our organization to math
educators across the state.

Dr. Charles Wallis, professor of mathematics at Brevard College, has been an educator for more than 30 years with
a career that began with an undergraduate degree in computer science and a master’s and PhD in mathematics. He
has taught at two North Carolina colleges and published in both mathematics and mathematics education. He has
demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching, to mathematics, to mathematics education, and to NCCTM. During
an outstanding career, Charles has been recognized for excellence in teaching mathematics as a recipient of the
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award at a North Carolina university. Recognition of teaching excellence came
from a student in a recent mathematics class when he commented that “some teachers make math boring and
uninteresting. That’s not Dr. Wallace who is excited about teaching math and math concepts. That enthusiasm is
contagious. I love this class.”

Charles is also deeply committed to helping teachers grow by providing effective professional development
and by serving as a Co-Principal Investigator on two grants totaling 2.9 million dollars. The grants focused on helping
high school mathematics teachers from across North Carolina to deepen their understanding of mathematics and to
explore inquiry-based pedagogies in their own teaching. One colleague wrote that the honoree’s “deep knowledge
and love of mathematics, skilled facilitation, and infectious personality were key factors in the project’s success, and
many project alumni have gone on to become leaders of our state’s mathematics education community.”